Pandora



The Pandora is a demonic briefcase which Dante obtains from the Hell Gate after defeating Dagon. It is able to transform into 666 different and devastaing forms, and incorporates the Disaster Gauge into its function. Dante has access to seven of these forms. Although it is a Devil Arm, it is treated as a Fire Arm for gameplay purposes.

Disaster Gauge
The Disaster Gauge is a gauge which is filled through successful use of Pandora's basic forms, though each form fills the gauge by differing amounts. The length of the gauge increases as Gunslinger is upgraded. The gauge determines the strength of Pandora's Gunslinger attacks, and is depleted through their use. The effect of the gauge varies between the techniques.

Gameplay
To compensate for the long duration required to activate its forms, most of Pandora's moves are extremely powerful. For example, "PF398: Revenge" can knock out The Savior with one direct hit. Even with a low Disaster Gauge, "PF666: Omen" can instantly break enemy defenses such as shields, a Frost's ice cocoon, and even Mephisto & Faust cloaks when fired at close range. A full Disaster Gauge will kill any lesser demons in front of Dante.

"PF594: Argument" can also be used to float across a room as long as the Disaster Gauge lasts, much like Air Raid in previous games. It can be used to player's advantage in two (7th and 12th) secret missions to easily finish them.

While in Devil Trigger state, the button combination inputs to transform the Pandora will be decreased. For example; PF124: Hatred will only need half the input of the left/right code, and PF389: Revenge will only need 1 spin. Furthermore, all of Pandora's forms, excluding "PF666: Omen", can be charged while in Devil Trigger.

Background
Pandora's Box was a jar in Classical mythology which held all the evils of the world. It was given to the first woman, Pandora, as a gift for her wedding to Epimetheus, and because of her curiosity she disobeyed her husband and opened it, releasing all the evils of the world, except for "Hope". Pandora's ultimate move, "PF666: Omen", simulates this event.

Several of the code numbers for the abilities are actually based on known misery, evil, and tragic numbers;
 * 666 - The number of the devil, as mentioned in the Bible.
 * 13 - Widely considered to be an unlucky number, based on Norse myth that Loki gatecrashed a feast and killed a favored god: He was the 13th guest to that feast.
 * 262 - A number that was meant for horrors; an Internet horror game was also named 'Hotel 262'.